Readings for Pentecost 6

Amos 7: 7-15

Ephesians 1:3-14

Mark 6: 14-29

Passage for meditation:  For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."  So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him.” Mark 6:18-19a

Devotion: Most people don’t like confrontation.  Usually it’s because we don’t like to hurt someone’s feelings, or get them mad at us.  Sometimes, perhaps, people avoid confrontation because they feel they might get hurt, or worse.

That didn’t seem to be John’s problem.  He had no problem telling the King that he aught not be messing around with the sin of “having his brother’s wife.”  He didn’t care if it hurt his feelings or upset him.  In fact, John’s act of confrontation was in great love for Herod.  It is if he was saying, “Your messing with God when you act like that- watch out!”

In this instance- John lost his head for speaking out in love. 

We too may lose things for speaking out in love, confronting others with God’s word of warning and also with the good news of God’s salvation in Christ.  It may be our good name, our pride, our possessions, possibly even our lives. 

May God give us boldness and courage to speak His Word to those around us!